Christmas Holiday Roundtable 2021
The Clare Foundation recently held this years’ Christmas Roundtable event and invited Bucks based organisations and charities to attend. During the event we discussed the Christmas projects that The Clare Foundation had funded in 2020 and the value of partnership working.
We had over 30 delegates join us for the Zoom event and used themed break-out groups to discuss food support, schemes to assist vulnerable or isolated residents, and children’s toys and gifts to ensure delegates could network with like-minded individuals/ organisations and explore partnership working.
The Clare Foundation team also discussed the festive grant giving available and the additional support we can offer, and encouraged organisations to get in touch with us regarding any proposed projects this season.
“It was a really super event and it was very encouraging and inspiring to hear so many worthwhile initiatives taking place and being supported by the generosity of organisations such as The Clare Foundation.” Event delegate.
Christmas Holiday Roundtable guest speakers
Cllr Arif Hussain from High Wycombe Community Board spoke about partnership working and match funding of projects including hot meal delivery services for vulnerable individuals and families, LEAP activity bags and vouchers for care leavers.
Graham Wakeman from Restore Hope Latimer spoke about their Food Life project and the value of working with local partners like the Kings Church.
Jack Gocher from Radio Christmas discussed the radio station which broadcasts 24/7 1-24 December from a studio in Amersham and the opportunity to promote local businesses and charities.
We also had an update from Gill Harding from Buckinghamshire Council about the new Household Support Fund which central government have launched to help the most vulnerable between now and March 2022.
Buckinghamshire Christmas projects
To conclude the event, we finalised the key Christmas projects that will be lead by the following local organisations and Buckinghamshire based charities:
- Wycombe Homeless Connection – No one sleeps rough in Bucks at Christmas.
- Aylesbury Homeless Action Group – No one sleeps rough in Bucks at Christmas
- Radio Christmas – Funding towards their FM licence to help reach a wider audience.
- Bucks Students Union – Three Christmas projects benefitting vulnerable families, isolated older adults and international BNU students who will have no one to share Christmas with.
- Thomley – Christmas themed events.
- The Ivers Hive – support and events for vulnerable families in South Bucks
The Clare Foundation have helped to create connections between organisations who are working in a similar geographic area so that they can work together to help make bucks happy, especially during this holiday season.
Chiltern Toybank
The Chiltern Toybank have opened it’s doors again for Christmas 2021.
They are accepting registrations from parents/carers up until this Sunday 21 November – for any families who are struggling with household bills and cannot afford to purchase their children Christmas presents.
